journal junk about junk I gotta do.....

Self-Portrait Challenge~week 1

I've been married to an awesome guy for almost 21 years. we got married young, so people can't believe we have 4 kids. they say, "you don't look like you have 4 kids", I say, "what am I supposed to look like? an ape?" People used to gaulk when they saw me bopping around town with 4 kids in tow. When the forth came along, it was a bit more difficult. I decided to buy one those huggy things you hang from your neck with the baby in front. That way I could leave the stroller in the car and make it easier. I thought it was the most awesome invention since they didn't have these when my older kids were born. Well, my bubble was burst when this older stern woman walked up to me with a crooked finger and told me I was suffocating my child "in that thing". Ha! Nothing against older people, I'm just still traumatized by the gaul that woman had. I never got over why people had to have more opinions of you because you had 4 kids. are you an alien from outer space? my mother, who is from a small mountainside on a greek island would say with each pregnancy announcement, "even in the village, we used prophylactics" (think big fat greek wedding, yes, they say stuff like this). Much too her chagrin, my sis also had four kids (we call each other "MOF's" for mothers of four. So anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I am married to an awesome guy who I affectionately call, "Bruno". He is the "computer geek" kind of guy, although he got lasiks, old pictures of him don glasses that cover his whole face. He is the straightforward, "ron howard" kind of apple pie guy.(some of you may be too old to know who ron howard is...), anyway, he was in the navy, he sees things in black and white and makes spreadsheets in his head. when you ask him a emotional question he needs time to process. we joke that his brain takes messages, "in the order that they are received", a few days later he will spill out the answer out of nowhere, "no, your butt doesn't look big in that dress."..."ok, honey, that was so two days ago..." Oh yeah, this is supposed to be about me, right.
Ahhhemmm, well the point I was getting to is that I am the opposite of my linear husband. I am way spontaneous, ecclectic, and have made him move furniture more times than he would care to admit. he always looks at me with his eyes half shut and breathe's, "this is the last time I am moving this...". But he never ceases to humor me and do it. But, I think that is why our relationship works. He keeps me grounded when I am all over the place trying to do a hundred things at once.... "focus, Lia, focus" he will say, but I keep him seeing things in more than one way. He has become more spontaneous himself over the years. I think I may have convinced him that life is not all about strategy, that you have to take chances, go with your heart and step out of the box. He tells me he loves me because of my eyes and my heart. I love him because he is a great man and father and my rock to lean on no matter what. I had a hard childhood. I swear it's been his mission to make that up to me. He protects me like a bodyguard, and loves me like there is no tomorrow. Now, about the kids. I have two older teenagers and 2 younger kids (elementary school age). Now that all 4 are in school, I've gotten to do some things I like, mainly art and photograpy (I did art as a child and put it on the back burner because I "didn't have time"), I don't know why I waited so long. If I had to do it again, I would have fit it in anyway. I was always trying to perfectly organize my home (ok, I admit I can be a bit compulsive, even though I'm pretty laid back). I figured out one day that laundry, chores and junk like that will never end, but precious moments are to be relished. Each day has them, sometimes you just have to pay attention because they are hidden. esp. when your brain tells you otherwise. this wisdom has come to me since turning 40. And speaking of the big 4-0. I've come to some serious conclusions since turning 40. Life is what you make of it. Family and friends are to be treasured and nutured. Freedom from "what others may think" was lifes gift to me (along with an extra 5 lbs. when I swear my metabolism came to a screaching halt on the eve of my 40th bday)I think I may have actually heard it. Another thing I learned is that negative people zap you of all your energy. I try to spend time with people who make me laugh and help me be a better person. You can't change negative people, but they can change you. Life is too short to worry about petty junk. And speaking of junk, I like vintagey finds, old junk, stuff that has meaning and is also usable. I love vintage photos, family history, old victorian houses and going to the beach. I love movies, brownies and mcdonalds choc. sundae. I can have that for dinner. Most of all, I love my families hugs, kisses, lively conversation, jokes and hanging out together. I love making my house comfy so that others feel welcome and warm. I believe in being kind, looking people in the eye and finding the best in everyone. WEll, that's about it for now. Off I go, I think Bruno is calling me to get off the computer! :)~Lia (aka artjunkgrl).

my first "art squared" piece. I think I'm becoming obsessed!

I've been so intrigued with these little collage pieces I've seen online. I've searched the internet to learn more, more, more. but there is nothing, other than you make it 4" x 4". I love this size to work on. bigger than an atc and it's like a mini work you can frame. I think I'm a little obsessed again! I will post in my dream book tomorrow. I was out this afternoon and evening and was bouncing around ideas on what's next. I came home and did this little collage. I had started before I left today. I am trying some new things. more soon, Lia

journaljunk: "I love..."

journaljunk: "I love...", originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

from my art journal..I haven't done one of these word one's in a while. fun and relaxing to do while watching tv and hanging with bruno (while he falls asleep...lol). It was a great weekend though, so we were beat but it was a good tired. :)

p.s. I hope to do a page in my dream book later today. gotta get to some house junk first...the weekend tornado!

Altered book junk..."Faces in the window..Paris"

I finished up a spread in my altered book yesterday. I started it a while back. To see a larger size, click on the picture. LK

B.O.D. ~"Be a STAR"

*Be a Star*

don't quit until you get it....

--This is one of my first attempts at doing the crayon/color pencil technique that nancy baumiller describes on her blog, (see my sidebar). I know it's a
Teesha Moore phenom, boy, is she ever amazing, and the tutorial on her site is the bomb, she is so cool. I just love all these cool artists, they make arting so much fun! you have to have the skills though to put all the stuff down first and then color. I'm too impatient for that...LOL....and I don't quite do the pencil thing right. I scribble too much, I'm not methodical, I'm like the 40 year old who always colored in the lines because I was told too, but had the scribble mind with a zillion other things I wanted to glue down and add it...lol... I prefer paint markers, but not the smell, so I'm trying to use them less often or in good venilation since I'm sensitive to that kind of stuff. Anyhow, this is in my book of dreams. my goal in this book is to be free flow and try all the techniques I've been wanting to...now, if I could find more images I like...still workin' on that. sometimes I get bored with the same one's...comment if you have any suggestions and happy arting. I just love arting around!!!! Have a great weekend all!!!!

journal junk~My illustrated to do list....

A Day in the Life of Artjunkgrl.....Gotta go. See you all later! I love doing my art journal. It kind of kicks off the day on an artful note!! I was also inspired to do this from the Inspire Me Thursday challenge to see art in the "everyday". LK :)

Book of Dreams~Pocket Page

Wow. I'm having fun with this. I haven't made a pocket in a journal or book before and always wanted to know how. ArtsyMama showed us 3 or 4 variations on her website for this week's tutorial on our "book of dreams" altered book project. For more info, check ...

ArtsyMama's Blog. She is providing lots of inspiration and excellent links. I picked this one as I found it to be the easiest (lol) and figured I could punch a few brads in and I'd be done. Then I could get to the fun part: painting and covering my pockets!!! I used some things today from my collage pack that I bought from Lynnette April' "Over the Moon Art". Check out her link on my sidebar. (both the quote and paper are from the pack). Then I painted the other side with one of my new acrylic paints. I went and got some new colors b/c I was getting bored with my art journal pages. I picked some way out there one's I wouldn't normally use, but I love this turquoise color. I like the folk art paints. Good for my budget too. lol. Anyhow, I decided to slip in a few tags that my daughters made for me a few months ago. I had them saved up in box. That is why I chose the little girls. Anyway, off I go. Gotta get back to "reality", but I can't wait to come back to my book of dreams! Your comments/questions are always welcome.LK :)
P.S. I am using a small flip photo album book with black pages. I picked these up at dollar tree a while back. I like the size, weight of the pages and the fact that it's something I can play with and not be "afraid" of...

Inspire Me Thursday: "The sign of happiness"

My children are often my greatest inspiration. Here is what happened while painting this.

JJ: "mommy, what are you painting?"

me: "I'm painting flowers, it's the only thing I paint..."

JJ: "Mommy, that is the sign of happiness. You paint flowers because you are happy."

me: "Thanks JJ. I think you are right". :)LK

Photobooth Pic for Self Portrait Tues. funny faces. circa 1985

Last Tuesday I put up my recent photobooth pic from Spring break. When we got back from the beach, I searched for the "original" that we did in 1985 (the year we married). So, here it is, going back in time...me an my honey. wow, I feel old....look at those chunky cheeks and the BIG glasses on Bruno! This was before the lasiks, 4 babies, etc, etc..... LK

p.s. my inspiration for digging up my photobooth shots (and subsequent obsession with getting family photobooth shots..vintage, which I don't have yet) is from hulaseventy's blog. She posts them every friday. She has some great one's so check it out!!!!